Zinal Backcountry Skiing

Introduction

Zinal Backcountry Skiing weeks are exciting guided ski holidays with the focus on skiing the best terrain and best snow further away from the pistes. Every day we will be exploring a new area to find the best snow and best descents. Some descents will be lift served off piste and some we will be boot-packing or skinning to get to.

As the week progresses you will pick up the essentials of backcountry skiing . These skills include avalanche awareness, skinning, boot packing, glacier skiing and decision making. As conditions permit we can cover crampon/ice axe skills and crevasse rescue.

These are great holidays in themselves and a good way to build skills needed for ski tours.

Clicking on the ‘Book Now’ button opposite, will open a new tab/window in your browser and direct you to our online tour booking system. Here you can check the course dates and availability

Location

Zinal, in Switzerland’s Valais Alps has truly world class off piste skiing. The Val d’Anniviers is one of the Alps’ hidden off piste destinations. Extensive, varied terrain, big vertical drop, north and east facing slopes and a good snow record combine with the essential and hard-to-find ingredient – no crowds. Throughout the season, even days after the last snowfall, we find untracked snow.ENQUIRE NOW

Further Information.

What's included

Guides expenses

Guiding fees

In resort transport

Chalet accommodation (half board)

What's not included

Transport to/from Zinal

Equipment rental

Travel insurance

Uplifts according to itinerary

Lunch and snacks when on the mountain

Who is this for?

We split the group into intermediate and advanced courses, so you will be backcountry skiing with people with similar ambitions and ability. You should be an Intermediate or Advanced off-piste skier to get the most from these holidays. We take both splitboarders and skiers, trying to match speed and ability so that everyone gets the most out of the weeks.

You can expect to be skiing from first lift each day. Most days you can expect to do some uphill work to get to the descents. If this all sounds like hard work, don’t worry! It’s your holiday and the pace is up to you – but a sniff of fresh powder and it’s often “maybe just one more run…”! There is also the option of a day’s heliskiing to open up more terrain (at additional cost)…

Accommodation and huts

We stay in Chalet Edelweiss in the hamlet of Mottec, just a minute or two outside the village of Zinal itself. This comfortable chalet provides us with half board accommodation with afternoon tea & cakes and includes beer/wine with the three course evening meal. We really are well looked after here! They also have a selection of skis to demo, being a Scott Ski test centre.

Typical Itinerary

Arrive Zinal and settle into chalet Edelweiss.

Day 1:
Unguided warm up day for you to find your skiing legs. We meet in the evening to discuss the plan with your guide(s).

Day 2 – 6:
5 days guided ski adventures. We explore the entire Zinal region (including St Luc and Grimentz) to find outstanding descents. Some of which we will need to do upto 1-2 hours uphill effort for. We are not giving away anymore secrets on the locations!

Departure.

Training

Good fitness will make it more fun and you’ll get more out of your week! Although we will tailor the course to your ability, we definitely recommend getting as fit as possible before you start. The process of training for your goal will help you focus on your goal – and having a goal will help you focus on your training. So all in all training is good!

Back country skiing and ski mountaineering is all about being able to exercise at a moderate intensity for several hours, and your training should reflect this. Probably the best training is cycling as this targets similar muscle groups and prepares the mind (exercising for long periods in poor weather requires mental strength!). However not everyone has the opportunity to do this and so alternatives such as jogging and gym workouts are also good.

The focus should be on training Cardiovascular Endurance as well as Strength for long days in the mountains – for cardio cycling/running/rowing machines are much better than weight training. Try and exercise for up to a couple of hours at a time at least twice a week. Try yoga, swimming, pilates etc too to help with core stability and balance. Squats and cycling are a good way to strengthen your legs. Remember to build up your workouts over time. If you are not used to exercising much, your muscles and joints need time to build up to avoid injury.

Try and choose an activity that you enjoy and keep a note of what you do and your times – this really helps with keeping the motivation up. If you are not used to training then your local gym will be able to advise you on a plan and schedule to help you achieve your goals. Training does not work overnight! The fittest athletes train as part of their lifestyles and have been doing it for years. Consider training for a good couple of months before coming out to the Alps.

Make sure that it covers glaciated mountaineering and climbing/ skiing. We recommend the Dogtag (www.dogtag.co.uk) – they have comprehensive policies and a good reputation.

Getting to Zinal

It is best to book flights and airport transfers well in advance of your departure.

Easyjet have many cheap flights to Geneva from all over the UK. Swiss Air have cheap and convenient flights from London to Geneva.

The train service from Geneva to Zinal runs regularly and takes around 2 hrs.

There are several cash points in Zinal and Maestro/visa/mastercard are all readily accepted.

FAQ's

How big will the group be?
Our ski courses will be no more than 6 people per guide. If the group is larger than 6, there will be a second guide and we will have the ability to split the group if necessary.

Is it possible to book individually rather than a group?
Yes. We run our courses with a minimum of 4 people. You can either book individually into a group or you can book as a group and fill the spaces yourself.

What equipment will I need?
Please read the kit list above.

When is the best time?
Good backcountry conditions are generally from January until early April in the Alps. In January and February we tend to have more frequent snow falls and March and April provide excellent spring skiing conditions.

Do I need insurance?
Yes. You will need to take out a comprehensive backcountry skiing package to cover yourself for your trip.

What’s the weather like?
The weather in the Alps is always changeable, but generally we are confident to say that January and February will be snow-filled and cold with temperatures hitting -15 on occasion. Fast forward to March and April and the weather is generally sunnier and we experience warmer temperatures around the 0 mark.

How do you match up people on the course?
It is very important for you to let us know your previous experience and ski ability level before booking with us. Then we are able to match you up to suitable groups with similar abilities to make sure you get the most out of your trip.

What will we do if the weather is bad?
Zinal is perfectly situated within reach of many other resorts like Zermatt and Verbier. This gives us ultimate flexibility to find the best conditions in the area should the weather not play ball in Zinal.

Why choose Adventure Base?

3 reasons to choose Adventure Base for all your mountain adventures.

1. Safety means success – We have been guiding clients in the backcountry for over 8 years with a very high safety rate. To date we have had no major incidents or injuries. This is due to us taking great care in assessing the current snow conditions, and educating our clients on mountain safety.

2. Fun times – We believe in fun times. Skiing in the backcountry can be a serious challenge. But who says it can’t be fun too? Our guides are full of energy, knowledge, fun facts and big smiles. They help create lasting memories.

3. Word of Mouth – Over 70% of new clients have been recommended to us by a friend or colleague. We don’t spend big on marketing campaigns, we stay true to our product, we pay attention to every detail and then let you do the talking.

“Zinal has one of the best snow records in the Alps. I jump at the chance to head to Zinal for some backcountry adventures away from the crowds!”